UNSWORTH bounced back from two defeats in Division One of the Greater Manchester League to claim a three-wicket win at home to Stand.

But they had to do it without pro Mangaliso Mosehle, who has been called up by South Africa.

The talented wicketkeeping all-rounder has flown home for a training camp and will return with the South Africa A squad touring England next month.

Captain Jack O'Brien believes Mosehle is only due to figure in three one-day matches against the England Lions – one at Trent Bridge on June 1 and two at Northampton on June 3 and 5.

But with England hosting the ICC Champions Trophy at the start of next month and a five-day series against South Africa later in the year, he could yet be called up as cover for first-choice wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

"We are obviously gutted to lose Mangaliso, but the call-up shows just how good he is," said O'Brien.

"At this stage it looks like he will be missing for only four weeks.

"Thankfully, with the Lancashire League playing on Sundays there is a good choice of people willing to sub-pro in the area, so we have some good guys lined up as cover.

"Andries Gous came in from East Lancs at the weekend and did a great job against Stand."

Unsworth were made to work by a spirited Stand side.

A third-wicket partnership of 113 between Chris Thomas and Danish Ateeq helped the visitors recover from 7-2.

Gous removed both danger men, claiming the wicket of Ateeq caught and bowled for 62 before trapping Thomas lbw for 52.

O'Brien then played a captain's role, removing David Farmer via a run-out for 25 then helping to clean up the tail with 3-42 as the visitors were reduced from 150-4 to 209 all out.

Gous then top scored in Unsworth's reply with 48 before ex-Bury all-rounder Mohammed Jahangir fired an unbeaten 41 to help guide them past their target with 10 balls to spare.

"It was probably a good game for the neutral," said O'Brien.

"Not quite so good for me as a captain, as we dropped a few catches and let them off the hook a little.

"But it showed the strength in depth we have in the team.

"Our batting is not all about the top four, we had Jengy (Jahangir) coming in at number six and he was well supported by Ian Hall (24) at number eight and Mo (Muhammad Saoib, 13 not out) at nine.

"Promotion has always been the main aim for the season and we feel we have the players to claim a top-four spot."

The win moved Unsworth up to seventh in the table ahead of this weekend's trip to newly-promoted Dukinfield.

Greenmount, meanwhile, made it four wins out of four against Edgworth to go second.

Openers Saad Khan and pro Kaustub Pawar put on 98 for the first wicket before both were dismissed for 55.

The Brandlesholme Road men faltered somewhat to finish on 209-8.

Edgworth struggled in their reply and were 95-6 when Adam Sydall (28) joined Clyde Fortuin at the crease.

The pair put on 94 for the seventh wicket, with Fortuin adding the bulk of the runs, hitting 110 from 111 balls.

Once Sydall went, Fortuin followed soon after as Edgworth lost their last four wickets for 20 runs.

  • See today's Bury Times for a picture special of Unsworth's victory over Stand.